During our trip to Denver, we utilized our Denver Passport quite a bit, it allows us to visit many attractions in Denver including the Denver Art Museum. I went there with husband on our “date day” when our in-laws offered to take to kids to another more kid friendly attraction near by. Little did I know, it became one of the most moving and emotional museum visits I have ever experienced, it has affected me so much that I broke down and cried in the middle of the museum for over 5 minutes. I will get to the details of this special exhibit in a bit.
The Denver Art Museum not only house more than 70,000 works of art, the museum’s Hamilton Building IS an architectural work of art in itself. Designed by Daniel Libeskind, it recalls the peaks of the Rocky Mountains and geometric rock crystals found in the foothills near Denver. Visitors explore the Museum’s galleries with its open space design, moving freely among the various floors and peak into the dimensions above and below. I love the overall openness of the space’s design and love capturing wandering visitors. If you have the chance to visit Denver, this museum is a MUST SEE on my list.
While the museum have many interesting art works on display, today I am going to focus on one special exhibit that captured and broke my heart (see photos below). The featured exhibition Common Ground: Photographs by Fazal Sheikh, 1989-2013, is a survey of the nearly 25-year career of the critically acclaimed documentary photographer Fazal Sheikh, with focus on raising awareness of international human rights issues. The exhibit features more than 170 portraits and landscapes chronicling individuals living in displaced and marginalized communities around the world, many times as the result of war, exploitation, and poverty. Photographs in Common Ground span a period from 1989 to 2013, offering deeper insight into major world events, racial strife, and mass global displacement in places such as East Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the Netherlands. Stories told through Sheikh’s pictures focus on survivors, orphans, and victims of violence and abuse.
I end with post with a heavy heart but a very full one. I feel grateful that I have my children with me, everyday, they are my heart, my soul, my everything. I am grateful to be their mother, that they have my love and affection and care. I see children in war infested countries without family, without home, without their mother and father. This is the cost of war. Innocent children are the victims. I don’t have a strong political or religious stance, I believe in LOVE, I believe in a better world for our next generation, yet I don’t know if world peace is something that is even remotely possible. So now you know why I sobbed, suddenly, uncontrollably, hysterically in the middle of a museum and unable to gather myself. Have you ever been moved by a performance that renders you heartbroken? Share with me your stories.
~ xo Sheree
Every time I see a programme or news report about migrants crossing the Mediterranean on dangerously crowded boats I feel so sad for them. I also feel lucky that I was born into a much better situation. As intelligent beings we have the knowledge and resources for everyone to have food, shelter and to be safe but we keep failing. I don’t know if we’ll ever get it right.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thank you so much for showing us what you saw at the museum and thank you so much for featuring me! You have no idea how happy that made me this morning 🙂
http://www.jerseygirltexanheart.com
These stories are so heart-breaking. It is so important to remember these lives that are tormented and to be thankful for what we do have here. I am so blessed every day with the life I have. I cannot even imagine the torment that permeates every aspect of these people’s lives. Thank you for sharing this exhibit with us and for sharing your emotional reaction. Beautiful post.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
This museum looks wonderful. I am heading to Boulder to see family this weekend so maybe we will take a look. Thanks for the link up!
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
This looks like a wonderful museum. I love all the photos of photos! Great outfit too!
Peace!
Cheryl
http://www.northwestmountainliving.com
The museum looks amazing. I’ve been to Denver, but not that museum, now I want to go. The architecture sounds fascinating.
I’m loving all of your pictures and suggestions about Denver!! I’ve never been but it looks like such an interesting city!
The Art Museum is definitely on my list! I always find so much inspo at museums 🙂
XO
Aimara
http://www.waysofstyle.com
I definitely need to check out the art museum. That exhibit looks swell. xo, Suzanne~ http://www.suzannespiegoski.com
I’ve become more and more interested in attending photography exhibits and museums, and the Denver Art museum definitely seems like the place to go to. The black and white photographs look so interesting and emotional. Thanks for sharing your experience and review 🙂
http://www.samanthamariko.com
With all these beautifully taken pictures, I felt like being a part of the tour with you 🙂 this is really good. I love the design of the museum, I would definitely love to visit this place, or I should start where I am with what I have. Thank you for sharing this, Sheree 🙂
xo,
Jane | dailylifetalk.com
That is so heartbreaking, always when I read these stories and see these pictures I can’t hold back my tears.
Thank you for this post and your real emotions, I really would love to visit the exhibition.
http://lanaluu.com
Wow, that looks like a very powerful exhibit!
I most definitely understand your sentiments. This world is so sad at times. Yes they should stop and consider that children are being affected when they nave these awful decisions to destroy other countries for absolutely no reason. It’s horrible. On another note, I’m glad you were fulfilled in your Denver trip. That’s my second home, and it has a place in my heart. Did you get to see the blue bear?
And now I’m sobbing behind my computer screen, Not many people know this, but I have always had a soft spot in my heart for kids. They are so innocent and are our future! It breaks my heart to see them ripped away from their families and treated so poorly.
This art museum looks gorgeous. I don’t visit museums that often, but this one looks super cool!
War is so brutal and sad. Children are always the victim and they don’t deserve any of the repercussions of war. It’s truly heartbreaking to see them displaced from their homes and family. I am so grateful for every day and everything we have.
I always enjoy museum visits…. Denver Art Museum looks amazing.
It’s worth reading all those stories that will surely touch us. Also a good reminder of how blessed we are.
Your photos are always so good Sheree! 🙂
God Bless!
JM Kayne | #InMyHeart♥
I love going to museum especially when they have exhibitions for bnw photography. The Denver Art museum looks truly interesting. Definitely, will visit when I travel to Denver. Thanks for sharing an amazing review!
xx. Gina
Wow, that sounds like such an amazing art exhibit. For me, it takes a lot for art to move me, but I can see how this one did for you. These would be such emotional photographs to look at.
The Denver Art Museum is pretty cool! I already have been wanting to go to Denver for a while now, and this just gives me an additional reason to visit!
Oh sweetie, I’m glad you got to experience what art is all about. Art is not about fancy galleries, high prices and trying to be pretentious. Art is about touching your soul and this exhibition at the Denver Art Museum truly did that and made you appreciate life and love even more. I love when that happens to me and that’s why I love art so much. I’m intrigued to visit the Denver Art Museum after this emotional review of the current exhibition!
Thomas xx
What an amazing post! I love how real you are with your experience being at this museum – which is gorgeous by the way – but it also breaks my heart knowing things like this happens on a day-to-day basis. This is another reason why I LOVE art because of how the artist can speak to you and touch you – good or bad. I definitely would love to come to this museum one day!
We drove through Denver once on a road trip and didn’t have all that much time to explore. All I remember is all the gorgeous mountains and the Target LOL. This museum looks gorgeous! That exhibit looks hauntingly beautiful – I probably would have cried too. I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in town. My kids are finally old enough to appreciate museums and not just themed water parks, thank goodness…
XO
http://www.lehoarder.com/
I agree with you, I’m a mother of 2 girls and I’m glad to live in the peace country. Seeing those poor children with their desperate eyes you know everything they could passed and I’m so sorry. Being a good photographer is also to Can capture the moment in his shots and touch the soul of the audience. Thank you for having reminded us of being thankful for everything we have
Xx
Eva
http://www.themermaidfashion.com
Wow this is amazing! This museum seems absolutely wonderful. I’ve personally never gone to Denver but it’s higher up but it is up there on the list of places I want to travel. Visiting museums is one my favorite things to do especially with my kids because I Think that it’s something a little different and they can learn a lot from it. All the gorgeous art looks absolutely breathtaking and super photo worthy. I would love to visit one day I’ll definitely consider this museum as an option. Thanks for sharing!
It is truly so heartbreaking to see and hear the trials of these poor innocent children. I’ve never been so moved as you describe by an exhibit by I can totally see why you were. I also appreciate the fact that I am able to be with my children every day and wish somehow these injustices didn’t happen.
These are such beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing about this museum with us. I haven’t been there before, but I would love to! That outside architecture of the building and around it is so interesting and amazing!
-Amy K.
The beauty of art is that it can touch emotions on a deep subconscious level and that’s honestly why I love art so much. It can convey so much meaning. I always try to visit museums to get inspired and see what other artists are doing.
There’s so much going on in the world and it’s so easy to get swept up by our own “first world problems.” We often forget to appreciate everything around us. What an emotional experience for you since you can relate so much to being a mother. Thanks for sharing as its a great reminder to me to just be thankful for all that I have.
xoxo,
Maggie S.
❤Clothestomidnight.com
I can see why you broke down within 5 minutes. My gosh all of the images are heartbreaking. 🙁 We are definitely fortunate to be living in better situations. Thanks for sharing this with us and I will definitely put this on a spot to visit in the future!
Sweet as Fiction xx
http://www.sweetasfiction.com
Hey Darling,
Hows you?
Denver Art Museum Sounds very interesting but very hard to see these photos, I am super sensitive:(
I love Museums
Definitely would visit one day
Thank you for sharing this Darling!
Love Open Kloset By Karina
Happy Week
Wow… what a visit. It all looked beautiful and so interesting. That last story really got to me..
Thanks for sharing your experience at Denver Art Museum I love checking out museums they can be so inspiring and really moving.
Perfect place to go on a date or with your family as I think museums have something for everybody.
I totally understand why this affected you as it is a serious issue and a very sad one.
Xo
Natalia k
I love visiting museums and usually take a stop at art galleries. The Denver Art Museum looks great and seems offers a tone of interesting exhibitions. I always feel so inspired after spending few hours in museum. Thank you for share, next time I will stop there for sure,
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Well now I’m crying. I can’t imagine having to leave some of my family behind and having to pick who. It breaks my heart and as a mother even thinking about what she must have felt brings me to tears. There is so much suffering in this world and so many of us are oblivious to it. I hate that this wold is so broken. I’m so glad you wrote about this museum because I MUST GO! I like the idea of the passport! More cities should do that! It’s incredible the amount of art they house! Daniel Libeskind did a wonderful job designing the Hamilton Building as well.
Manda | http://EvocativelyChosen.com
I’m not surprised that you were so moved by Sheik’s work, it makes us remember how lucky we are just to live with basic human rights. The museum itself is such an interesting architecture- you can totally see that it is inspired by mountains.
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
What an amazing post. It really makes me feel so lucky to have the opportunity we do. I love history but there is so much sadness in heartbreak.
I’m going to Denver next year – I’ll be sure to check out the museum.
Thanks so much for sharing. J. x
Such an incredible museum babe!! Love going to new cities and always visiting the museums. This one looks amazing and so cool you and your husband made this together like a date day! I have to say the photographs from Fazal Sheikh are absolutely stunning and so amazing captures of people portraits. Love this initiative and would love to see this in other museums.
xoxo
Marcy
Thanks for sharing the exhibit of Fazal Sheikh’s work. His portraits are incredibly striking and it is heart-wrenching to read the plight of Seynab Azir Wardeere’s family. I really want to visit that museum one day. I love the architecture and the space.
xo, Jo
OMG the art museum at Denver is so pretty!! I love visit Museums, especially the modern ones. The architecture of that museum totally blew my mind away. Can’t wait to visit it one day.
xx Jessie
http://www.4evajessie.com